Apparatus and method for issuing a news release while filing an sec filing

Abstract

An apparatus and method provide for simultaneous issuance of a news release with the submission and filing of an SEC EDGAR filing. A news release disclosing an event related to an organization and containing a material disclosure is generated. Once the news release is generated, the issuance of the news release to a news release distribution source is scheduled. A description of contents of the news release to be placed in an EDGAR filing are then generated and the EDGAR filing is filed while issuing the news release to the news release distribution source. The apparatus and method offer truly simultaneous news release distribution at the same time that an EDGAR filing is made.

1 . An electronic filing method for performing an EDGAR filing while issuing a news release, the electronic filing method comprising:
 generating a news release disclosing an event related to an organization, the news release containing a material disclosure;   scheduling an issuance of the news release to a news release distribution channel;   generating a description of contents of the news release to be placed in an EDGAR filing; and   filing the EDGAR filing while issuing the news release to the news release distribution channel,   wherein at least one of the steps is executed using a processor.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic filing method of  claim 1 , wherein the EDGAR filing is filed simultaneously with the issuance of the news release. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic filing method of  claim 1 , wherein the EDGAR filing is scheduled to file at a first selected time and the issuance of the news release is scheduled to issue at a second selected time, the first selected time being different from the second selected time. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic filing method of  claim 1 , wherein a copy of the news release is attached to the EDGAR filing as an exhibit. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic filing method of  claim 1 , wherein the EDGAR filing includes an item category and item text, the item category being one of several predefined category codes and the item text being one or more paragraphs containing the description of the contents of the news release. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic filing method of  claim 1 , wherein the news release contains at least one of a release text, or classification codes, or keywords, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic filing method of  claim 5 , wherein each EDGAR filing is generated based on a template for a type of EDGAR filing, the template being automatically customized based on the item category and the template being populated with the item text. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for executing the electronic filing method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . An electronic filing apparatus comprising:
 a memory configured to store a news release and a description of the contents of the news release; and   electronic circuitry, coupled to the memory, for performing an EDGAR filing while issuing the news release and configured to:
 generate the news release disclosing an event related to an organization, the news release containing a material disclosure; 
 schedule an issuance of the news release to a news release distribution channel; 
 generate the description of the contents of the news release to be placed in an EDGAR filing; and 
 file the EDGAR filing while issuing the news release to the news release distribution channel. 
   
     
     
         10 . The electronic filing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to file the EDGAR filing and issue the news release simultaneously. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic filing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to file the EDGAR filing at a first selected time and configured to issue the news release at a second selected time, the first selected time being different from the second selected time. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic filing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to attach a copy of the news release to the EDGAR filing as an exhibit. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic filing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the EDGAR filing includes an item category and item text, the item category being one of several predefined category codes and the item text being one or more paragraphs containing the description of the contents of the news release. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic filing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the news release contains at least one of a release text, or classification codes, or keywords, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic filing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to generate each EDGAR filing based on a template for a type of EDGAR filing, the template being automatically customized based on the item category and the template being populated with the item text. 
     
     
         16 . An electronic SEC filing apparatus, comprising:
 a memory configured to store a news release and a description of the contents of the news release; and   a data processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
 generate the news release disclosing an event related to an organization, the news release containing a material disclosure; 
 select one or more recipients to receive the news release; 
 select one or more news release distribution channels to distribute the news release; 
 schedule a distribution of the news release to the one or more news release distribution channels; 
 generate the description of the contents of the news release to be placed in an SEC filing; and 
 simultaneously file the SEC filing while distributing the news release to the one or more news release distribution channels. 
   
     
     
         17 . The electronic filing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the data processor is configured to attach a copy of the news release to the SEC filing as an exhibit. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic filing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the SEC filing includes an item category and item text, the item category being one of several predefined category codes and the item text being one or more paragraphs containing the description of the contents of the news release. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic filing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the news release contains at least one of a release text, or classification codes, or keywords, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic filing apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the data processor is configured to generate each SEC filing based on a template for a type of SEC filing, the template being automatically customized based on the item category and the template being populated with the item text.